The day begins like any other, the air still warm from the morning sun as I walk toward school. The streets are quieter than usual, and my thoughts are lost in the gentle rhythm of my steps. I glance up at the sky—it's clear, bright, the ocean breeze dancing through the trees, and yet, my mind is elsewhere, restless.
It's been a few weeks since I started school in Okinawa, and while the unfamiliarity of it all has faded a little, I still feel out of place. I miss Tokyo—the pace, the noise, the people I used to see every day. The smooth, calming presence of the ocean has made me feel at home in some ways, but when I'm surrounded by so many unfamiliar faces at school, I still feel like an outsider.
"Ayu-chan!"
I glance to my side, and there's Kaito, riding his skateboard lazily beside me, looking like he just rolled out of bed. Behind him, just a few steps behind, walks Ren—quiet, composed, hands in his pockets. His presence feels like a quiet shadow to Kaito's energy.
"Not again, Kaito," I mutter, half-smiling at the familiar sight. "I'm fine walking to school on my own."
Kaito grins. "Oh? But walking with me and my lovely assistant behind me makes it way more fun, doesn't it?"
I raise an eyebrow. "You're calling your older brother your assistant?"
Ren sighs softly, offering a small, amused smile. "I just wanted some fresh air."
Kaito flashes a grin at him. "See? He wanted to come along."
I glance at Ren. His eyes meet mine for a second before he looks away, quiet as always. There's something strange about seeing the two of them together—Kaito loud and playful, Ren silent but steady. I don't quite know how to act when they're both around.
As we approach the school, the morning bell rings across the courtyard. Students start to gather in noisy clusters, laughter spilling into the air. The energy of the day is building.
I stop just before the school gate, suddenly conscious of how visible the three of us must look. "Thanks for the walk," I say, not quite sure which one of them I'm thanking.
"No problem, Ayu-nyan," Kaito says with a wink.
Ren's voice is softer, just behind him. "Have a good morning."
I nod, slipping through the gate. Their voices, their presence, linger even after I disappear into the crowd. Maybe it's just my imagination, but I swear I feel Ren's gaze still on me.
The day passes in a blur—quiet classes, soft-spoken classmates, the rhythm of routine. I fade into the background, the way I often do, but I keep thinking back to the walk this morning. Kaito's teasing, Ren's calmness. It's all beginning to settle somewhere deep in my chest.
When the bell rings for lunch, I slip out into the courtyard, searching for a quiet spot. I'm halfway to the garden path when I hear it again—
"Ayu-nyan!"
I turn and, of course, Kaito is there, leaning dramatically against a tree like he's been waiting all day. And there, next to him, Ren—arms crossed, silent, but with that patient look that tells me he's used to Kaito's antics.
"What now?" I ask, already knowing the answer.
"Lunch, duh. With me. And with our very patient background character," he says, motioning to Ren. "You're not really going to eat alone, are you?"
I glance at Ren. He shrugs lightly. "The beach is quiet today."
I hesitate. This is different. I'm used to Kaito pulling me into things, but with Ren there too… it feels like a layer of something deeper I'm not ready to name.
Still, I nod.
We leave the school grounds, heading down the back path that leads to the sea. The breeze picks up, and the scent of saltwater wraps around us. Kaito tosses his skateboard aside as we reach a familiar rock near the shore, the same one we've sat on before.
Ren sits a short distance away, not too close, not too far. He opens his lunch quietly and eats in silence, occasionally glancing out at the waves.
Kaito flops beside me, unwrapping his bento like it's a prize. "Best lunch spot ever, right?"
"It's peaceful," I say softly, my gaze drawn out toward the horizon.
Ren hums in agreement. "There's something about the ocean that settles everything."
Kaito, mouth full, nods. "Told you—Ayu's a water spirit. She only comes alive near the sea."
I roll my eyes, but my smile is real. "You're the one who drags me out here."
"Because I know it helps," he replies easily, nudging my elbow.
A silence settles over the three of us, but it's not awkward. It's… gentle. Ren watches the sky. Kaito taps his chopsticks together absentmindedly. I sit in the middle, strangely at peace, the sound of waves a soft background to our quiet triangle.
After a while, Ren stands and brushes off his hands. "We should head back."
Kaito groans. "You're no fun."
Ren glances at me. "You coming?"
I nod, standing too. "Yeah."
We walk back together, the three of us, and for a moment, I'm aware of how strange—and comforting—it feels. Like something is shifting, just slightly.
Maybe I'm not as alone as I thought.